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I applaud your efforts both with bike and the ride.
I saw that Gillott up close the other night. The lugs and fork crown are amazing. Lovely frame.
Regal-
^Cheers,
Nice to know the Gillott looks good close up - That was Armoutex wasn't it?While I've been riding these last couple of days I've been thinking about how to create a permanent place for the Roberts in my stable in a way that's reasonably sensitive but also practical.... I think the answer is winterbike. My thoughts at the moment are:
Open out dropouts to 130mm & remove siezed stopper screws
Get frame powdercoated white and fit 70's Roberts decals in Black
Route rear mech cable via original braze on's & procure chrome cable clips for rear brake (i.e. no extra braze-ons to be added).
Run 7speed (or 8speed if Dura Ace AX mech will allow) on a single 48T drillium chainring
Build 2 sets of wheels (I have everything but the sunday best hubs in my shed):
Practical: Wolber Aero Clinchers (grey with big WOLBER stickers) on Athena hubs
SundayBest: Ambrosio Metamorphosis (also with big lairy stickers), hubs tbc, probably screw-on.
Have 2 pairs of pedals (I have these too):
Practical: Look Delta
SundayBest: Zeus track pedals.
Accessories: Keep the REG clip-on bottle cage for long rides and a pair of Raceblades for the winter.
Flame me if I'm going to kill the puppy.......
Note: Pwder coating is fine for nice lugs isn't it.....?
Rik_Van_Looy
Shakedown report...
@57Hawkes' 14-28 6spd freewheel (Mendips friendly) fitted on Friday night.
Reading Dura Ace AX datasheet on disraeli gears showed 26T max sprocket so I'd planned to use end-stop screw & restrict to 5spd.
After fitting 14-28 I discovered there are 2 types of 6-spd - the most common of which is for 126mm OLN hubs.... I'd got lucky with the 14-19 Maillard (without realising that "Compact" stamped on bearing cover refers to sprocket spacing - not the fact that it's bloody small!!)
14-19 went back on & I headed home, discovering en route that jumpy chain was a stiff link. Sorted that on the roadside and rode home in petrol station plastic gloves to avoid marring ice white bar tape!
By the 2nd climb of the Wiggly Mendip, the rear mech cable had stretched/settled sufficient that I could no longer access 19T and did the remaining 80-odd miles on 42/18 max.
After the first feedstation the rear tub (70's wolber) punctured, but Stan's sealant did the trick leaving things a little flaccid, stupidly I pressed on rather than stopping for re-inflation and during the full tilt descent to Cheddar in pissing-rain the tyre walls finally gave-out - innertube emerged from a 1" tear in the silk sidewall and was immediately guillotined by the chainstay.....
New tub fitted and I rode alone for 15miles - but no further drama.
All good in the end, and an acceptable time given crap weather, and inappropriate ratios